Catholic Eldercare in Northeast Minneapolis, a provider of housing and services  to older adults of all faiths, today announced Dan Johnson will retire in January after 11 years as Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Chief Operating Officer (COO) Greg Baumberger has been appointed as the organization’s next CEO.

During his tenure, Johnson has been widely recognized for leading Catholic Eldercare to better meet the evolving needs of seniors. He facilitated a more coordinated approach to quality care and established a new Adult Day Services area, Transitional Care unit and expanded therapy services. Johnson also spearheaded the development and construction of Wyndris, an innovative senior community in Northeast Minneapolis that offers amenities for active 62+ year olds while providing access to Catholic Eldercare’s care continuum, should their health needs change as they age.

Johnson was also instrumental in the creation of an award-winning community engagement program to mitigate social isolation for at-risk seniors,and made it available for use by other organizations in the area.

Johnson brought a varied background in health care and academia to his role at Catholic Eldercare, including a decade with the HealthPartners Institute for Medical Education, where he helped physicians, nurses and other health care professionals with ongoing professional development. These experiences gave Johnson direct knowledge about the care his residents need, and about how to best support the Catholic Eldercare employees who deliver that care.

As a result of the impact Johnson has made, he was recognized in 2018 with LeadingAge Minnesota’s Kal Michels Outstanding Leadership Award, which honors a leader in older adult services for their contributions to their residents, employees, and community.

“For more than a decade, Dan Johnson has tirelessly served our elders and staff as a mission-driven, humane and pragmatic leader,” said Suzanne Snyder, chair of the Catholic Eldercare Board of Directors. “He has led the way and inspired others to join him. One of those people is Greg Baumberger, who we’re thrilled to welcome as our next CEO. With Greg at the helm, Catholic Eldercare will continue to significantly improve the lives of the seniors we serve.”

Baumberger brings more than 25 years of senior health care administration experience to his new role. During his time as Catholic Eldercare’s first COO, he has helped enlarge the organization’s capacity, improve its quality, and strengthen its financial performance to enable it to further invest in its offerings. Prior to that, he served in a variety of operational and other leadership roles with other senior health care systems, including Presbyterian Homes and Services, the Benedictine Health System, and the Good Samaritan Society.

Baumberger said he’s looking forward to the next chapter in a career built on helping seniors live healthier lives. “I’m thrilled to lead this organization as we pursue our mission to provide the care, housing and services older adults need to continue living fully with dignity,” he said. “Catholic Eldercare is on an exciting path to serve even more seniors, and I look forward to partnering with our elders, our growing staff, and the community to make an even bigger impact in Northeast Minneapolis and beyond.”

Johnson will assume a short-term transitional role to help support several strategic efforts as Baumberger assumes leadership for Catholic Eldercare at the beginning of 2020.